Theftproof-lamp construction



March 3, 1931. E. WANAMAKER THEFTPROOF LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed March 26. 1928 Patented Mar.. 3, 1931 @Wee-stette,

ERNEST WANAMAKER, en Cnrcaeo, TLLiNoIKs, AssIeNoR v To KULT THEFTPnooF LAM? Para Nbr cFFicaf] COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CoRPoRATIoN--orILLINoIs Y.

THnFTrRoor-LAMP CONSTRUCTION Application mea March ec, 192s. seriaifNo. ze4`,vf.'sf.r c

This `invention relates to locking means 'or'y devices for locking electrical apparatus with! ink supporting sockets` and' `has particular reference to devices ot this character for renis dering electric lamp bulbs,- plug fuses, and

the like, thettproof.

The subject matter of this invention comprises a theftproot electric lamp so made that it may beinserted 'in `a lsocket Vof the usual It@ construction and yet which cannot be stolen `orremoved Afrom thesocket untilafter the, lamp bulb or electrical apparatus has become broken and displaced.- 1

The objects of this "invention Aincludeythe 'l-' provision of a very simple, durable and inexpensive constructionvforthe purposes desired, such construction .embodying substantiallythe minimum number ofparts and be# ing'dependable andcertain in itsoperation. l

' y ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate various yembodiments of my invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view through the baseportion of a lamp including` the inventionin one of its forms;

25 Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views illustrating yother ifo-rms of the invention,

F i014 is a sectional View of a part of the base portion of alamp of the form shown in i? Fig.v 5 is vsimilar to Fig. l but illustrates still another .embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 6 isa vertical sectional view of a part of the base portion of a. lamp oi the form shown in Fig.`2. y

YIn generalthe invention as illustratedy may comprise an electric lamp bulb-10, or other electrical device of conventional lform, a base vmember 11 adapted to 4be securely cemented y upon the stem or neck 1270i the lamp bulbfor f y the'like, and ai threaded shell contact 13 embracing the base member 1l and designedto i engage a vconventional form of screwv threaded electrical receptacle. f

to restrict the Vapplication of my invention to its use with lamp bulbs, since various other types of electrical apparatus, such as plugv fuses, thermo-ionic valves, and the like, may 50 be vsubstituted. for the lamp bulb l0, and i611* tated and cannot be removed. Y

v After the lamp or other electrical appa-v ratus has become worn out so that itis d'e- Ysirable to` remove the same, the operator may It will be understood that I not desire dered'theftproof in accordance this ini vention.A

The base member 11`may comprisejacylin`- f l dricalshell contactplllup'on whichthe thread- .y

ed shellv contact 13 isloosely iitted. In

the' form shown in Fig, 1. the shelljcoir tact 13 may be secured against rotation `in {'respect to ythe 'shell contact l.'14 by the use of an area or areas of frangible ibrous` material as at 15, which maybe ksecured both to the basell and the shell contact y13 :by adhesive material .orl otherwise, i according 'to methods hereinafter described.' This secur be observed that when the base member l11 is readily screwed into the receptacle. lThe lamp or otherwelectrical apparatus m'aybe thus inserted and removed from,v the recep,- tacle as often as desired, as long as no abnormal rotational forcesare exerted thereon. However, when 1t 1s kdesired to render the device theftproot, the threadedy shell Contact may be screwed home in a receptacle and then f Ving meansserves to initially fix the thread-l y ed shell contact lagainst'rotation relative to the lamp base and lamp. Accordinglyuit will ser if an abnormal and additionalv force is exerted to screw the device further inwardly, the area or areas of iibrous material at 15 will be disrupt-ed, Thereafter, the shell contact 13 will be free i'or rotational movement in respectto the base member 11 and, accordingly, 'when an attempt is made to remove the lamp from its receptacle by turning the bulb, thebase member 11 will merely 'freely'rotate withinK4 the threadedy shell contact and without eXer ing rotational force upon such Contact.V Hence, the bulb or other apparatus, togeth er with the base member. 11 will be merely` ro- Y Y cles of broken glass. Access may then be had to a flanged edge 16 on the threaded shell contact for removal thereof by the use of pliers or other suitable tools.

The threaded shell contact 13 maybe permanently retained against longitudinal movement inrcspect to the lamp by means of the flange 16 at the lower edge of the contact and a flange 17 at the upper edge or end thereof. S'Thefflange 16is adapted to` be spun member 11.

`'Iheglower portions of theiiange 16 may be preferably located well within the receptacle member inwhich the lamp is. inserted. In this f waythe' `receptacle memberserves to prevent 20v ,accessito thethreaded shell Vcontact-member andaccordingly this member cannot be turned either inwardly Aor out ofthe receptacle by tampering whiletherlamp, or other electrical apparatus is inoperative condition.

25 As ,shown in Fig. 1, the interior ofrthebase vmember llrnay be filled with a suitable cementto cementithebase memberto the neck Wofthe bulb in ,theconventional.manner. At the upper endofthebase member 11.V a center p30 contact 2 0 may be positioned and held in place -kby the ,use` ofl an insulating end piece 21,-

vwhich may be tightly tted orniclded 'into V vtheupper end ofthebaseinember 11. .Lead

Iwires 22 and 23 from tlie'lamp filament or Y 35 ,other electrical .devices maygzbe electrically y -e'onnected tothe contacts 13and-20respec- Y tively inany 'suitable and well lrnownnian- V.-ner.' n Y lflfhe `area or,.areas of fibrousfmaterial 15 ,40,may comprise various kindslandgrades of paper, cloth or other `sheet insulating Aniaterials ofsuitable thicknessand strength to insure the .retaining of the parts `together until the.desired.predetermined force is ap- -v .plied l.to Idisrupt this connectingmeans to .render'the .lamp theft-proof. Y ln order that the disruption maybe made to' taire place ,alongapredetermined.line and Vto insure comi :plete separation, the f `fibrous A.materiali may be :perforated.-Oiotherivise weakened a Aprede- `.'.termined:amount-along thezdesired. line of 1 separation as V at 2t. (See. Fig. l1 ,ano also area of Asheet.material 15 may, forexample,

f begluedr secured by. asuitablendhesive \..to=:,the insulation piece21 andthe outer-peripheral .edge of the samepiece may be lilieivisesecurefl as-at 25 .to thevflange portion .17

Y of the kthreadedshellcoirtact18. lf desired, *mathe inner .peripheral edge-.may be clamped beneath .thecenter contact y2O .,as,atY 2 5. .In ffact, suitable. clamping or riveting :means ,mightbe lusedat .both the .innerV4 and outer edges of theiibrous piece 15.4 Where an 165V.; adhesive .isusedkall .find itprfeferable to .use

force only will be necessary for proper disruption of the initial securing means. Inasmuch as the b'rous material will be disrupted `alongca predetermined line, which preferably may .be made circular .and concentric with the axis ofthe-ibase, afterdis'ruption no further resistance will be offered to the free turning of the bulb parts in respectV to the threaded shell contact.

In Fig. 2 a similar formfof lamp is illus- .trated in which the area of disruptible sheet material is indicated at 27and may comprise an annular band of gummed cloth or. gummed linenv paper or the like, as indicated, glued to theupperflange ofthe threaded shell "13 rand to the insulation piece 21. y

ln the kform of the invention,illustrated in llig, abend of-.iibrous material as at 28 encircles the lower peripheral edge of the shell contact V14 and may be secured thereto atlintervals by adhesive as indicated at 29.

at alternate intervals thisband of material may lee-secured as .at 30 to the inside lower vperioheral edgevlG. ofthe threaded shell contact 13. The band of fibrousfmaterialQS may function in substantially thev same manner as the fibrous disruptiblemeans above described and it be somadethat when subjected to a predetermined force,lthe connecting portions intermediate between the glued areas 29 and 30 will bedisruptedor if desired, .the fibrous material may be made of sufficient strength so that rthe disturbing force'iwill cause the glued areas togive way from the metallic flanges. e

In the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 5, the lower peripheral flangesyof the contactj 14 and the threaded shell contact 13 are Vshown initially fixed together by the use of disruptiblefareasas at 31, such areas comprising a composition mixture comprising,for exam- Y ple, one of the adhesives as above mentioned,

mixed with an equal quantity of particles or -e shreds offibro-us material. The 4number or dimensions ofthe areas 31 and the-strength lof material used maybe so selected or chosen as to give an initial holding means of the :desired vstrength,.which upon the application f .of-,apredetermined `force Y,would be disrupted :to releasethefpartslto render the'lampftheftproof.

With the `embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they disruptible fibrous material may be Y maden desired, of a ,Sambia @Oies t@ ha;

'monize vtithlthe natural' color of "the lamp i base, or -ifpreferred,some distinctive Acolor f in ydetailfand in connection with certainpre- @may be utilized VY'to readily indicate to the4 user that thelamp is of the theftproof form.

lIVhile 'I have described my improvements ferred forms thereof, I do'not desire to be Therefore, Idesire; to cover all modifications and iformscoming within the language ori" scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What I claim as new andi-desire to be se A cured by Letters Patent of the United States is' a shell Contact and an insulated center contact therefor, means fixing the shell contact against longitudinal movementin respect to saidbulb member, and an area oiV fibrous' sheet material initially fixing said bulb against rotation in respectto said shell con#rk tact and'purposely designed to be disrupted Y by the exertion of avpredetermined force toeffect such rotation.

2.3An electric lamp, comprising a bulb member, a supporting base having ashell I lcontact therefor, said shell Contact and bulb being provided with means to prevent 'longi-Y tudinal separation but permitting relative rotation therebetween, a iilament in said bulb, e

' screw threaded for engagement with theconmeans for maintaining connection between Vsaid filament and said shell contact during J relative rotation ofsaidcontact andthe bulb,VA

and a body of disruptible fibrous material aflixedv to and extending between said shell contact and said bulb member to normally prevent relative rotation therebetween.

.3. 'In an electric lamp, a bulb, a supporting base having a shell contact therefor, fibrous insulating means for initially securing the bulb against rotation in respect to said shell contact, said means being purposely designed to be disrupted for permitting the bulb to. be independently rotatable after the exertion of a predeterminedforce to effect independ-V ent rotation thereof, and means for maintaining electrical connectionY between the lamp lament and the shell contact regardless of the rotation of the bulb.

4. A theftproof base for electric lamps,

comprising an inner shell, an outer screw threaded'shell surrounding thelinner shell,

means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the twoshells, and a disruptible area of frangible sheet material securing the' shells in respect to each other and serving to cause the conjoint movementof the two'shells in the act of screwing the base into a usual' lamp socket and being disruptible upon ur I .1. An electric lamp "comprisinga bulb, and A -the-rturningzof the base? inflthe same direction andV thereby preventing the rotation of` the screw thrreadedshell.,V

authorized'removal of the enclosure, from the shell, said shell being provided with means for engaging a supporting receptacle by vturning movementofv said shell, and an area of fibrous insulating material initially fixing said enclosure against rotation in respect to said shell tonormally permit inser- Y tion andremov'alof the'shell injrespectto a receptacle by turning said enclosure,said ma" terial being purposely designedto be disrupted by thev exertion of a predetermined forcelto effect further inward turning of the enclosure-in respect'to the receptacle.l -f

5 Y 6. yA1' theftproof base for electrical lamps,A` 'comprising fan inner shell .inY which `alamp bulbfis adapted to be fixed',fan` outer screw threaded shell surrounding the inner shell, Y

ingthe two sh'ells'fadapting them to turn to-v gether to an: extent sufficient to lpermit the seatingofthe lamp in the socket and'there-` lafter upon furtlier'turning-of the lamp in@V the-saine direction being disrupted, thereby preventingtherotation of the screw thread- Y ed shell and consequently preventing the removal'ofthelamp intact. Y f f v7. In a theftproof electric lamp, a1bulb ,a

shellcontact therefor, thef shell contact being ventioiial socket and also'` secured -by a sheet of' insulating, materiall whereby the bulb isl fixedagainst rotation in-respectfto said shellf contact while v,the lampis being inserted into a socket, said insulating material being pury posely designed tobe'- disrupted alongf apredetermined line 'for releasingthe bulb for` free rotation in respect to thefshell contact after'the exertion of abnormal force to effect independent rotation thereof.`

" 8; 'A'theftprooifelectric lamp comprising ja bu1b,a substantially` cylindrical metallicI shell rpermanently cemented to the stem there'- of and electrically? connectedto one-`of the l? lamp filainent terminals, al centercontact fco'nnected'to the otheriilamentterminal, a

threaded shell contactembracingsaid vme'tale lic shell, said threaded Contact and said me-` `tallic shell being'iormed'with lportions to v means to prevent relative longitudinal move-V nient of thetwo shells, and a' 'sheetof disrupt--' lible insulating -,material for initially'fconnect-l prevent relativeV longitudinal movement thereof, and an area of paperV arranged "to secure said shell in respect to said Contact forpreventing said threaded contact fro-in turning in respect to the bulb while the lamp fis being'v inserted in a receptacle by turning the bulb', saidpaper means being purposely designed to be disrupted by theexertion of a,

predetermined force to edect further inward "1,3 0

"i'psaicldevice and-said socketV member for nor'- etmfn-in'gk ioithejbulb infrrespect to the" rer. ceptacle. Y

9. In combinationfan:'electric lamp bulb, af substantially f cylindrical supporting and Contact carrying member,permanentlyy ceimentedf-thereto; al threaded shell contact' em- `bracingvsai-d-y member, and a sheet of fibrous material for initially iixing :said bulb Ifagainst rotation inl-respect to said Ycontact to normally'permit insertion and removal of t-hefy threaded shell 'in respect to a receptacle y by turningsaid bulb,` but said ibrous material Y :being purposely'designed to fbe disrupted ".enedlinefofseparationby the eXertion of an -abnormalforce to effect further inwardturn- Y along apredetermined perforated or yweak- Ving of theshell inrespect to a receptacle.

'310. A theftproof base forelectriclamps,

Vcomprising-an'inner shell, V#an outer screw threaded shell surrounding theinner shell,

ration oi'the device from the supporting member notwithstanding 4disruption of said frangible` material. Y j n a -InV testimony whereof I havefsigned-Vmy s name tothis' specilication.- i

ERNEST WANAMAKER. ff

means to prevent'relativelongitudinal move- `ment ofthe two-shells, anda disruptible area ofi-frangible 'sheet materialasecuring the shells in respect tov each .other andfserving to .cause i the conjointfmovementof the two" shells in V theactoscrewing the baseinto arusual lamp l i lsocket v and -being disruptible `uponv further `.turning of the'basein the same direction 'and .-therebypreventing the rotation of the screw threaded shellfsaid sheetmaterial' being disn tinctively colored -inl order-to clearly identi- 'y :the ,base-asV beingAv of the theftproof type.

t Y 11. yInV ,combination,- an electrical device,

meansfor supporting said deviceandfor preventing its unauthorized removal, compris-V l ing a-soeketmember for engaging a supportingfreceptacle `upon applyingto said mem- `ber a predetermined movement, 'an element oidisruptible iibrous ymaterial connecting -ma'lly preventing relative movement therev between; but permitting such movement upon disruption of saidY element by the application y of apredeterminted 'force in the .direction of i saidfpredetermined: movement, whereby after i fthe devicerhasfbeenvmounted lat a supporting receptacle, said element `may be disrupted by -the continued application f of "force, *such 'disruption preventing theV application of a treverse movement to 4said supporting means by movement of the f device upon-unauthor- -v ized attempts toV remove the device,'and means fer'preventingseparation ofsaid device from 'said supportingmeans. i

l2. In combination, an electrical "device, Y

`asupporting member mounted fon said de- -v1ce,sa1d supporting-member beingfprovided Witlrmeans-i'orengaging a receptacle by applyingrapredetermined movement l-to. said xsupporting Vmember` through movement of `4saijd device, said device being'initially fixed .against-movement in .respect to :said support- Y fing memberby adisruptiblearea-offrangible 2 sheet materiall to normally permit insertion e and removal otfthev :supporting :member .in 

